Throughout the summer and into the fall, the rooftop farm has grown lettuce, collards, kale, carrots, tomatoes, and all kinds of peppers.

The urban farmers behind it also ran into several unusual challenges that come with growing fresh food just blocks from Times Square.

"We've always had plenty of pigeons around here, and they seem to have spread the word quite quickly that we've got food on the roof," Sherouse said.

Those New York pigeons were immune to traditional anti-bird deterrents. Sherouse and his team of farmers tried everything from scarecrows, which were ignored, to sprinkling cayenne peppers on the plants, which the pesky pests quickly got used to.

Finally, they decided to cover their plots in removable cages, which have been bird-proof — so far.

The project got its first-year funding from the United Way, but is holding a fundraiser on Nov. 10 to raise the funds it needs to be self-sustainable.

The benefit, Urban Harvest, will feature home-cooked food using ingredients from the rooftop, a silent auction, farm tours, and some down-home bluegrass music.

"This year, we learned that this will work," Sherouse said. "This benefit will help us see growth next year."

The Urban Harvest Benefit is on Nov. 10, 2011 between 6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. at the Metro Baptist Church, 410 W. 40th St.

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